Pacific

Stunning images of the Atsani typhoon have been captured by CloudSat and Aqua satellites on August 19. The first space artifact passed near its eye and collected information about the inside of the typhoon through its cloud-penetrating radar.

UN-SPIDER news:

Since the inception of Pacific GIS/RS User Conference in 1999, this annual event has attracted a lot of participants. Each year the range of GIS/RS technologies presented cover an array of applications including the management of resources of the small island Pacific nations.

The mission of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) of Solomon Islands is to provide leadership in the development and maintenance of measures to support communities in reducing their risks and managing the consequences of disasters. +

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At the request of the Government of the Solomon Islands, UN-SPIDER carried out a Technical Advisory Mission (TAM) from 24 to 28 September 2012. The goal was to evaluate the current and potential use of in all the aspects of Disaster management and strengthen disaster risk management in the country by providing better access to space-based information for disaster risk reduction as well as response.

Dates:

Mon, 24/09/2012 to Fri, 28/09/2012

Host Institution:

National Disaster Management Office (NDMO)

Mission Team:

The mission was headed by two experts from UN-SPIDER and included experts from UNEP, UNDP, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), York University, Planet Action, the China National Space Administration and the Regional Centre for Mapping and Resources Development (RCMRD), which is one of the UN-SPIDER Regional Support Offices in Africa.

Mission Profile:

The mission began with pre-TAM discussions of the mission team with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) of Solomon Islands. The mission team visited several offices during the first three days. These meetings provided an insight to these agencies' roles in the national disaster management processes with an emphasis on space-based and geospatial information. Additionally, a one day workshop was conducted, which was attended by 25 persons from the government departments, UN agencies, NGOs and private companies involved in using geospatial technologies for disaster management. The workshop included presentations from various Solomon Islands Government departments and the mission experts. The second half of the workshop was dedicated to a brainstorming session inviting the participants to contribute to improving the use of space technologies in disaster management. The workshop was effective in generating awareness and getting valuable inputs to strengthen space technology in disaster management. On the last day, the TAM team briefed the Director of NDMO on their findings, which led to a discussion about follow up actions in the near future. The observations and recommendations will be compiled in the form of a report which will be shared with the Solomon Islands Government and UN organisations.

Since the inception of Pacific GIS/RS User Conference in 1999, this annual event has attracted a lot of participants. Each year the range of GIS/RS technologies presented cover an array of applications including the management of resources of the small island Pacific nations.

From 20 to 22 February, ESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) held a regional workshop on geo-referenced disaster risk management information systems for South-East and East Asia, and the Pacific.

This meeting will be held from 20 to 22 February 2012 in Bangkok, as a follow-up activity to the Expert Group Meeting on Geo-reference Disaster Risk Management System in Asia-Pacific Region held from 15 to 17 February 2012 in Bangkok , and also an activity of the project entitled “ Improving Disaster Risk

After two activations of the International Charter "Space and Major Disasters" to provide satellite imagery for the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Evan, the Charter was today again activated in the context of this Cyclone; this time for Fiji.